Quote:
Originally Posted by boydcarts
My first choice would be Larry Niven's "Known Space." A wide range of races and a long stretch of history (especially if you factor in the "Man-Kzin War" series of books.)
My second nomination is the either the "Confederation" or "Commonweatlh" universes created by Peter F. Hamilton. Both authors create very detailed worlds in which the aliens really are alien, not just Green Bug Eyed Humans.
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I'm also a big fan of Known Space... although I must admit I'm finding myself disappointed with the most recent books featuring Nessus. More than a few points revealed about the puppetteers seem unrealistic or even self-indulgent in contrast with the earlier stuff.
e.g.: General puppetteer enamourment with human culture to the point that its fashionable for some members even of the highest echelons to take names from Greek mythology?! Part of me wonders if its just a last-minute justification for a publisher-forced convention to give the puppetteer characters readable/memorable names...
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I am even more taken by Iain M. Bank's "The Culture" universe:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture
Sentient machines, super-intelligent spaceship Minds, infinitely moldable and changeable bodies and the presence of both mindless hedonism and good old fashioned human (not that they are humans--they aren't, as per the story world, I believe) intrigue and politicking... but more than a little bit of it involving the (compared to "meat-bags") seemingly omniscient Minds.
Also, I found the Idirans (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiran-Culture_War ) to be magnificent villains. I am sad they were so quickly (after just one book) cut down to size and thus basically disposed of.
- Ahi